Beleza kept up the pressure on INAC Kobe at the top of the table with another fine win, this time at the expense of Niigata, who stay mid-table. Sakaguchi Mizuho once again did what she is so good at - heading in a corner kick from Uetsuji Yumi, who herself scored the winner in the second half. She too scored a trademark goal from a direct free kick. Oishi Sayaka had equalised for Niigata in the same manner that Sakaguchi had done - heading in a corner kick taken by Kamionobe Megumi. Beleza had enough to keep Niigata at bay in the second half and they look forward to a trip to Fukushima to play Vegalta Sendai. Niigata are away to INAC Kobe.

One of two dramatic 2-2 draws today, in which Urawa looked beaten early in the game only for the champions to come storming back in the second half. Kawamura Yuri and Hamada Haruka have been in sparkling form for Sendai, and they scored two goals in three minutes between them to give the visitors a good halftime lead. Urawa had fewer chances in the second half than they had had in the first, but they made them count. Kira Chinatsu replied just before the hour mark and the equaliser came from Shibata Hanae with eight minutes remaining, with Nagano Fuka assisting having come off the bench for her first appearance this season.

Another comfortable win for INAC Kobe on their travels as they retain their 100% record going into Golden Week. Saitama performed better today than they have recently, though were ultimately no match for the title favourites. It took until six minutes into the second half for the lead goal to be scored, Kawasumi Nahomi following up after Sawa's shot had been saved but not held. Three minutes later Sawa scored one for herself, and it was her 150th goal of a long league career. This time Kawasumi was the supplier, with Sawa volleying home past Funada. Sarah Gregorius scored her first goal in Japan, a fine curling shot from the left side of the area to reduce the deficit but Saitama almost immediately allowed INAC to score again, Takase Megumi using her strength to shake off Matsuoka Sayuri to score with a flick into the corner of the net. Saitama next play Takatsuki and regardless of the result, both sides look destined to battle relegation in the Exciting Series. INAC Kobe are at home to Niigata.

A disappointing result at home for Iga, who have now lost three games in a row after a good start to the season. After a poor first half from both sides, two goals midway through the second half decided the contest in favour of the visitors. Sugasawa Yuika, who was top scorer last year and who leads the league this year, opened the scoring with Fukasawa Risa ensuring the points would return to Chiba with the second. Iga next host Urawa and need to reorganise; JEF United are at home to struggling Belle.

The second of today's dramatic comebacks from a two-goal deficit saw Belle rescue a point and like Urawa they now have four points. Takatsuki picked up their first point of the season but they will be very unhappy not to have won this game. Akiba Yumeko gave them a halftime lead, with Hazuki Yuki adding a second just over ten minutes into the second half. However, Belle fought back and goals from Kobayashi Makiko and Kishino Sana - both their first for the club - saved face for the visitors. Belle are next up against JEF United, while Takatsuki are at home to fellow strugglers Saitama. Speranza FC Osaka Takatsuki:
Ono Maya, Tsuboi Ayako, Takeda Arisa, Sato Kaede, Akiba Yumeko, Yoshimura Midori, Enya Mari, Torao Naomi (capt), Narumiya Yui, Hazuki Yuki, Maruyama Karina
Subs: Saito Toshiko (Maruyama Karina, 82 mins), Yoneyama Suzumi (Hazuki Yuki, 88 mins), Takahashi Saki (Narumiya Yui, 90+1 mins)
Unused subs: Yamamoto Maho, Kitagawa Wakana, Honda Saki, Sakumoto Fumika
Scorers: Akiba Yumeko (37 mins), Hazuki Yuki (56 mins)
Booked: Tsuboi Ayako

Nagano's winning run came to an abrupt end in the least likely of venues, as Fukuoka surprised them with their first goal of the season, with Uchiyama Tomoyo sparing her side's blushes with almost the last kick of the game. Nagano completely dominated this game from start to finish but simply could not hit the target and although they did escape with a point, they will know that they need to keep winning at the top to stay ahead of Nojima. Fukuoka stay bottom on goal difference, though they do now have at least some hope.

Setagaya picked up three important points today against a Hiroshima side which simply cannot get itself started this season. Mori Hitomi scored her first goal of the season to give the visitors a half-time lead and five minutes into the second half Sunoki Yurie - who had provided the final pass for the first goal - doubled this lead. Hiroshima pulled a goal back through Kanda Wakaho, her second of the season, but they could do little else and stay in eighth position. Setagaya move up to fifth.

Two goals in two minutes, one for each side, was the tale of this match as the JSC held on to pick up another important point in their quest for safety. Harima's quest this year was promotion, though they are finding it tough with the top teams pulling away. Nomura Natsumi scored her first goal of the season, with Fushiki Kaho doing likewise for Harima. Indeed Fushiki's goal is her first in the league. Harima next play leaders Nagano, the JSC are at home to Kibi.

Kibi must have felt that this game would bring their first victory of the season, but Ehime shocked them with two second half goals to stay in the higher reaches of the table. Kanbara Misaki gave the home side the lead after twenty-one minutes as they dominated the first half. The turning point came after fifty-three minutes when Komatsu Mina was sent off and Nishigawa Sayumi converted the penalty. Ueno Mami, who came off the bench for the fifth game in succession, scored her third goal in three games to win the game for Ehime. Kibi are ninth and need to start winning very soon to stave off relegation worries.

Uemura Shoko was in fine form in front of a record crowd for Nittaidai today, and she gave her side the lead midway through the first half. Just when Nojima looked like they would suffer another loss to a promotion rival, Tanaka Yoko scored the equaliser with five minutes remaining and then to the home side's horror Ishida Minami pounced on a loose ball to score her first ever league goal and take Nojima to within one point of Nagano.

Tsukuba were extremely disappointing in this fixture, and having started the season well, are now slipping down the table. Yokohama weren't particularly accurate in their shooting, but they did enough to win their second game of the season and thus move into second. Ishihara Ami scored her first ever league goal in the first half, with Tanaka Yui scoring her second in two games to make sure of all three points six minutes into the second half.

Bunnys finally won their first game of the season today, and did so in front of a relatively large crowd of over five hundred people. Bunnys' lead goal scored by Yoshizawa Ai was equalised by Kato Ibuki, scoring her first ever league goal direct from a corner kick. After halftime Bunnys managed to pull away, veterans Kushige Aoi and Matsuda Nozomi with the goals that put Bunnys fourth in the table, one point and one position behind Nagoya.

Kumamoto's woes on their return to the league continue, as they stay bottom with no points and no goals to their name. Shizuoka had very little to do to win this game, an early strike from Kanno Mie all that was needed. Shizuoka lie second, five points behind leaders Cerezo Osaka Sakai. Kumamoto are four points adrift at the bottom.

Cerezo Osaka Sakai kept up their 100% record with this fine win over the JFA Academy, who have yet to get going this season. Takarada Saori headed in a Hayashi Honoka corner after fifteen minutes for the only goal of the game as the home side keep a commanding lead in the division. The JFA Academy, from whom three players are going on loan to Nadeshiko League Division 1 sides, are currently down in fifth.

This game was closer than the scoreline suggests, though Yamato won't mind how close the NUHW were on the field. A three-goal home win puts them third, four points ahead of today's rivals, who stay bottom. Yamazaki Yuki, who played for Nittaidai in these parts, scored the opener and Ishibuchi Yuki, formerly of the JSC, scored a second from the spot after thirty minutes. Very shortly after the second half restart Naito Yuka scored her first goal in league football to end the visitors' hopes of taking anything from this game.

Norddea's first home game in the Challenge League since 2011 ended in disappointment as Tokiwagi Gakuen showed their class again today in winning their third consecutive victory. Indeed victory for the schoolgirls looked likely as early as the sixth minute when Kobayashi Rikako gave them the lead from the penalty spot. That was Kobayashi's fourth goal of the season, and Kuratani Narumi scored her third of the season just after half-time to double the lead. Ichise Nana, Kobayashi's U-17 World Cup winning partner, scored the third with just under thirty minutes to go. Norddea drop to fifth, five points behind Tokiwagi Gakuen who stay top.